The Guide to Invited by Small Luxury Hotels of the World

Small Luxury Hotels of the World is a group of around 520 high-end boutique hotels and resorts in more than 90 countries around the world. They vary in size and amenities, but all are chosen by SLH to participate based on top-notch quality and individuality. In fact, SLH sends inspectors to each property once a year to verify that they meet 750 different criteria.

Here’s what the Small Luxury Hotels of the World Invited program has to offer.

How does the Invited program work?

Instead of awarding points for stays to use for redemptions later, members earn free nights based on the number of eligible nights stayed. This means that there is no need to follow an award chart or worry about devaluations. Instead, travelers earn a free night voucher that can be redeemed at any property after staying 13 eligible nights.

Members may prefer this system to other points earning schemes. Travelers zeroing in on value will especially like that they can stay at SLH hotels that have a lower price point, but then redeem the voucher at a more expensive property. Though, the voucher has a maximum redemption value of $300.

The voucher can only be applied to the room rate and not for food, beverages or other hotel incidentals. It also expires one year after earning it and must be requested via email two weeks in advance of your stay. Further, the vouchers limit your flexibility. Once you've booked a stay with one, the reservation cannot be changed.

The benefits and the ability to earn a qualifying night only apply to one room, even if the member pays for more than one room during their stay.

Elite status levels and benefits

Invited by SLH offers an elite status program to further loyalty incentives. Here's a quick overview of how the program's three status tiers work.

Intrigued

The entry-level category, Intrigued, is for those staying three or fewer nights during a member’s tier year (based on the 12-month period following your joining date). Intrigued status comes with free wireless internet and the option for early check-in and late checkout based on availability. SLH classifies early check-in as noon and late checkout as by 2 p.m. Early check-in must be requested at least five days before arrival.

Inspired

Inspired status is the mid-tier level awarded to guests that stay between four and 12 nights. In addition to the benefits that come with Intrigued status, members also enjoy complimentary breakfast and room upgrades based on availability.

Indulged

Reserved for guests that stay 13 or more nights during their membership year, Indulged status comes with all of the benefits of the lower tiers, plus invitations to special events during the year. When travelers reach 13 nights, they also receive a voucher for a free night.

Unlike the two lower tiers, members can also earn Indulged status based on how much they spend at SLH properties. Spending $6,000 within a membership year gets members into this top tier, even if they've stayed fewer than 13 nights in the same time period.

» Learn more: How much are your airline miles and hotel points worth this year?

What hotels participate?

A wide range of small luxury hotels, boutique hotels and resorts make up the SLH portfolio, including many with fine dining, golf courses and spa facilities, plus a number of options ideal for families. All hotels in SLH participate in the Invited program.

To take advantage of Invited program benefits and eligible stays toward status, members must make a reservation through an SLH channel, like its website or reservation phone line. Reserving through a third-party channel, like Orbitz, doesn't qualify as an eligible night.

Among the popular SLH hotels are the dramatic Villa Orsula Dubrovnik in Croatia, Le Pavillon de la Reine & Spa in Paris, and The Iroquois Hotel in New York.

For a full list of participating SLH hotels, the website lists them by destination as well as by type of property, such as adults-only, beach resort, waterfront, etc.

If you join Invited by SLH

While the Invited program doesn't offer the ability to pool points with other members or have as many hotels in its portfolio as bigger programs like Hilton Honors or Marriott Bonvoy, it does provide a convenient and straightforward loyalty program option for stays at luxury hotels.

All SLH hotels are eligible for earning rewards in the Invited program. Especially if you have SLH stays in your future travel plans, consider signing up for this hotel loyalty program to take advantage of its benefits.